The State Department decided that May 19 to May 21 would be the national days of mourning.

According to the website of the Chinese Government, the State Council announced today that in order to express the deep mourning of all ethnic groups in China for their compatriots who died in the Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake, the State Council has decided that May 19 to 21, 2008 will be the national days of mourning. The full text of the announcement is as follows:

The National Flag flying at half-mast over Tian'anmen Square to mourn the dead

Announcement of the State Council

In order to express the deep mourning of all ethnic groups in China for their compatriots who died in the Sichuan Wenchuan earthquake, the State Council has decided that May 19 to 21, 2008 will be the national days of mourning. During this period, the National Flag will fly at half-mast across the country and at all overseas institutions to mourn the dead (editor's note: according to the interpretation of the Modern Chinese Dictionary, "mourning" refers to mourning in a certain way), public entertainment activities will be suspended, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chinese embassies and consulates abroad will set up condolence books. Starting from 14:28 on May 19, the whole nation will observe three minutes of silence, and at that time, cars, trains, ships will sound their horns, and air-raid sirens will wail.